title: Placental gene expression patterns of endoglin (CD105) in intrauterine growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we describe placental gene expression patterns of endoglin in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) compared to normal pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placental samples were obtained from 101 pregnancies with IUGR using 140 normal pregnancy cases as control. Gene expression patterns and protein levels of the endoglin were compared between the two groups. For the gene expression analysis real-time PCR was applied, while for the estimation of placental protein level we performed Western analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The placental endoglin gene was significantly overexpressed in the IUGR group versus the control group (Ln2(α): 1.69). The placental endoglin protein level proved to be significantly higher in case of IUGR (endoglin/β-actin ratio: 13.8 ± 2.3) versus the control cases (5.3 ± 1.1). The placental gene expression as well as the protein levels of endoglin showed no significant difference between female and male newborns. Concerning the placental gene expression and protein level, no significant difference was justified between the more (0-5 percentile) and less (5-10 percentile) severe cases of IUGR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased placental gene expression of endoglin may result in vascular dysfunction leading to chronic fetal hypoxia, which may induce VEGF-A to stimulate angiogenesis. This can be explained as feed back response to restore fetal placental circulation.
authors.affiliation: Praxis für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe und allgemeine Medizin , Wehingen, Baden-Württemberg , Germany .
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szentpéteri
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rab
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kornya
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Réka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brubel
authors.forename: József Gábor
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Joó
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface